New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-05-11
Figures Won't Lie.

E1&ufe SS WO4iG ll1ot
The bravest are the tenderest
and. as q. rule, the, simplest. These
qualities bravery, tenderness, and
simplicity my friend Colonel Tom
possessed in the highest degree, says
iawriter in the Atlanta Constitution.
The Colonel was too old to take
part in the late war, but, with the aid
OF the newspapers and a score or so
OF large maps, he managed to keep up
with the progress of each campaign.
His somewhat extensive military ex-
perience in the Seminole and Mexican
wars made him quite AN oracle
among the residents of Belle Isle, and
his predictions were unhesitatingly
believed.
During the summer Of '63; I;spent a
few weeks at Belle Isle. At that sea-
son.this semi-tropical paradise is al
ways IN its glory, and on the occasion
ofsmy visit Colonel Tom was at his
best. It struck me on the morning of
my arrival that / had never seen the
veteran looking better. His iron-gray
hair and grizzled mustache had a sol
| dierly cut, and something like. the
bloom Of youth fingered on his with
cred face. Through his glasses Icould
see a hopeful sparkle in his kindly
eyes. Undoubtedly my friend was
bearing the weight OF his three score
years splendidly. 1t was not long be-
fore penetrated the secret OF his APP
parent youthfulness and elasticity Of
spirits.
Il want to show you something"
said the colonel in a mysterious way
as he beckoned me into his library
one afternoon. OF course l went. The
mail from the mainland reached us
about that hour, and it was our Gus
tom to go over the daily papers to-
| gether.
"What do you think ofthe situation
| at Vicksburg?" asked Colonel Tom as
he directed my attention to map of
| the seat OF war spread out on the ta-
BILE before us.
made an evasive answer, but init
mated that had my fears.
"Feel little shaky, hey?"
swell, must admit that I do" was
my reply.
aNow, my boy" said the Colonel,
Il will show you just how it stands.
Here is a file Of the Daily Bomb for
the past two weeks. Take out your
pencil and figure little while Tread
complied with the request, and
the Colonel, after wiping his glasses,
proceeded to read from the Geographic
columns of different numbers of the
| Bomb as follows:
''VIcKsBURG, June 2O.-In the battle
OF to-day Grants losses were terrific.
He lost in killed and prisoners fully
10000 men. Confederate loss, l3l.
s'VIcKsBURG, June 23.-The Yankees
made several assaults to-day, but
were repulsed with the slaughter of
5000 men. The Confederates lost 81
killed and wounded.
''VIcKsBURG, June 2S.-The confeder-
ates made several sortles to-day, kill
ing 5000 and capturing 4, 900 prison
ers. Our loss inconsiderable.
'VIcKsBURG, July I've have won
another glorious victory. Ten thou
sand Yankees killed, and 5000 cap
tured. Our loss, sos.
"VIcKsBURG, July 2.-The fighting
renewed. Grants losses to-day will
foot up $4,000. It is reported that
Grant is mortally wounded.
| Got those figures down." said the
Colonel bean1ing upon me over his
| glasses.
''Here they are" 1 said. ~ make
it that the Yankees have lost in the
last five engagements $4,000 men,
"Just so," laughed Colonel Tom,
clapping his hands, "and our losses
are only a few hundred. Now, my
boy, what was Grants strength two
weeks ago?'
about 10000 men, Ihazarded at
guess.
Correct. Well, when you subtract
| $4,000 from 10000 you see that he
has only $4,000 left, while Pemberton
must have in Vicksburg about 10000
men fit for service. You see?''
did see, so far as figures went, and
then a wave OF depression rolled over
me. The Colonel went on excitedly:
Look at the map, sir When Penn
berton's 10000 men make their next
sortie and hurl themselves upon
Grants shattered legions, what will be
the result? Don't you see that the
Vicksburg campaign is virtually over,
and that in another day OF two we
shall be masters OF the situation.
After a painful pause I asked:
Colonel, can we rely on these mea-
ger telegraphic reports? They deal in
round numbers and give no details"
My friend Strengthened himself, and
looked sternly in my face.
Sir he said, II have taken the
Daily Bomb thirty years. It publish
ed my series OF Particles on notification,
over the signature of 'Junius Brutus,'
a series OF papers which received high
praise from such men, sir, as the Hon.
Kickapoo De Groo, Governor Cad
wilkens Pidkins, and Colonel Gallat1n
Montgomery. The Bomb, sir, sup
ported me for Congress. It published
In full the speech I made on
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